9th Inning Rally Send Travs Out As Winners in 2026

Box Score

Springfield, MO–A five-run top of the 9th inning sent the Arkansas Travelers out as winners for the 2026 season as they took down the Springfield Cardinals, 10-7 on Sunday afternoon. The Travs trailed by six early but matched their largest come from behind win of the season. Boston Smith led the offense with three hits and three runs batted in. Hunter Fitz-Gerald and Josh Hood both homered. Lucas Kelly earned the win, working the final two innings scoreless to close out the game.

Moments That Mattered

* A four-run fourth highlighted by Hood’s homer got the Travs back into the game.

* All five runs in the ninth inning scored with two out. Sammy Siani and Connor Charping connected for RBI hits to tie the game. Then an error on a groundball brought in the go-ahead run. Smith then banged a two-run double to provide some insurance.

Notable Travs Performances

* C Boston Smith: 3-4, BB, run, 2B, 3 RBI

* RHP Lucas Kelly: Win, 2 IP, BB, 3 K

News and Notes

* Fitz-Gerald extended his hitting streak to 15, the longest of the season by a Traveler, with a solo homer in the sixth inning. It was his 100th RBI of the season. He is the first Traveler to have a 100+ RBI season since 2002 and only the 5th in the modern history of the club (since 1966).

* Siani’s 9th inning hit gave him an 11 game hitting streak to close the year.

* Arkansas finished with 184 home runs for the season to establish a new modern franchise benchmark.

The 2026 season is over. The 2027 season opens on Friday, April 2 at Northwest Arkansas with the home opener scheduled for Tuesday, April 6.